Echeveria plant named ‘OVPEARLS05’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Echeveria  plant named ‘OVPEARLS05’ which is characterized by an abundance of dark greyed-green and heavily glaucescent foliage which is tightly held in a basal rosette, foliage which is conspicuously margined greyed-purple along the distal margins and apex and heavily suffused with greyed-purple at and towards the apex of the abaxial foliar surface. The new variety has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from asexual propagation.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus andspecies of the novel variety disclosed herein is Echeveria pulidonis.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Echeveria disclosedherein has been given the variety denomination ‘OVPEARLS05’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the Community Plant Variety Rightsapplication number 2019/3110, filed on Nov. 27, 2019, which is hereinincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘OVPEARLS05’ is a naturally-occurring, whole-plant mutationof an unnamed Echeveria pulidonis plant (not patented) which wasdiscovered by the inventor in March of 2009 at a commercial greenhousein Bleiswijk, the Netherlands. The mutation was noted for its abundanceof dark greyed-green, glaucous foliage with conspicuous dark redmargins.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar‘OVPEARLS05’, by way of rooting leaf cuttings, was first initiated inMarch of 2009 at the inventor's commercial greenhouse in Bleiswijk, theNetherlands. Through eight subsequent generations, the unique featuresof this cultivar have proven to be stable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘OVPEARLS05’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The followingtraits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the uniquecharacteristics of ‘OVPEARLS05’. These characteristics in combinationdistinguish ‘OVPEARLS05’ as a new and distinct Echeveria cultivar:

-   -   1. ‘OVPEARLS05’ exhibits a globular plant form with an abundance        of foliage tightly held in a basal rosette; and    -   2. ‘OVPEARLS05’ exhibits dark greyed-green, heavily glaucescent        foliage; and    -   3. ‘OVPEARLS05’ exhibits foliage which is conspicuously margined        greyed-purple, generally appearing as a dark red coloration        along the distal margins and apex; and    -   4. ‘OVPEARLS05’ exhibits heavy suffusion of greyed-purple at and        towards the apex of the abaxial foliar surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of‘OVPEARLS05’ grown in a commercial greenhouse in Bleiswijk, theNetherlands. This plant is approximately 1 year old, shown planted in a12 cm container.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the typical foliagearrangement of ‘OVPEARLS05’.

FIG. 3 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the adaxial surface of themature foliage ‘OVPEARLS05’.

FIG. 4 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the abaxial surface of themature foliage ‘OVPEARLS05’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements made in November of 2019describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of 1 year old‘OVPEARLS05’ plants grown in 12 cm nursery containers at commercialgreenhouse in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands. Plants were produced usingconventional greenhouse production protocols for Echeveria whichconsisted of minimal subsurface irrigation, fertilizer applications, andchemical pest control measures against thrips as required. No otherchemical pest and disease control measures were taken. Plants were grownunder approximately 50 percent shade after propagation and later exposedto full sun once they began to mature. No photoperiodic treatments orartificial light was given to the plants.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristicswill vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘OVPEARLS05’has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Wheredimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is tobe understood that such characteristics are approximations or averagesset forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety maydiffer from the descriptions set forth herein with variations inenvironmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations arebased on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘OVPEARLS05’ and a comparison with the parentand closest known comparator is provided below.

-   Plant description:    -   -   Growth habit.—Succulent perennial with foliage growing in a            compact, non-branched basal rosette.        -   Plant form.—Globular.        -   Height from soil level to top of foliar plane.—5.0 cm.        -   Plant spread.—Average of 15.7 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Moderately fast.        -   Plant vigor.—Moderately vigorous.        -   Propagation.—Type — Leaf cuttings. Time to initiate rooting            — Approximately 5 weeks at an approximate temperature of 21            degrees Celsius. Crop time — Approximately 1 year to produce            a marketable plant in a 12 cm container.        -   Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility.—Neither            resistance nor susceptibility to typical Echeveria pests and            diseases has been observed.        -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to, at least, USDA Zones 10            to 12 and temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius;            moderate tolerance to rain yet drought tolerant once            established; high tolerance to wind.-   Root system:    -   -   General.—Fine, well-branched fibrous roots.-   Stems:    -   -   Branching habit.—No stems or branches; leaves arranged in a            basal rosette.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Rosette.        -   Division.—Simple.        -   Attachment.—Sessile.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 92 leaves per rosette.        -   Shape.—Narrow obovate to broad oblanceolate.        -   Dimensions.—7.4 cm long, 2.1 cm wide, and 0.75 cm thick, on            average.        -   Aspect.—Very slightly concave; distal portion of the leaf is            curled upward at an approximate angle of 40 degrees to the            proximal portion of the leaf.        -   Attitude.—Foliage is held upright and outward at and near            the center of the rosette and becomes progressively more            relaxed towards the outer whorls of foliage.        -   Apex.—Abruptly acute.        -   Base.—Long cuneate.        -   Margin.—Entire; not undulated.        -   Pubescence, texture and luster of the adaxial            surface.—Glabrous, smooth, and strongly glaucescent.        -   Pubescence, texture and luster of the abaxial            surface.—Glabrous, smooth, and strongly glaucescent.        -   Color.—Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface — Greyed-green,            nearest to RHS 191A, and fading to yellow-green towards the            base, nearest to RHS 145C; margined greyed-green, nearest to            RHS 193D, and becoming margined with greyed-purple towards            and at the apex, nearest to RHS 183B. Leaves are covered            with a thin layer of epicuticular wax which is colored            greyed-green, nearest to in between RHS 188A and 188B.            Juvenile foliage, abaxial surface — Greyed-green, nearest to            RHS 191B, and fading lighter towards the base, nearest to            RHS 193B; margined greyed-green, nearest to in between RHS            193C and 193D, and becoming margined with greyed-purple            towards and at the apex, nearest to RHS 183B. Leaves are            covered with a thin layer of epicuticular wax which is            colored greyed-green, nearest to RHS 188C. Mature foliage,            adaxial surface — Greyed-green, nearest to RHS 191A, and            fading to yellow-green towards the base, nearest to RHS            147D; margined greyed-green, nearest to in between RHS 192A            and 192B, and becoming margined with greyed-purple towards            and at the apex, nearest to RHS N186C. Leaves are covered            with a thin layer of epicuticular wax which is colored            greyed-green, nearest to in between RHS 188A and 188B.            Mature foliage, abaxial surface — Greyed-green, nearest to            RHS 194A, fading to yellow-green towards the base, nearest            to RHS 147D, and becoming heavily suffused with            greyed-purple towards the apex, nearest to in between RHS            183A and N186C; margined greyed-green, nearest to in between            RHS 193C and 193D, and becoming margined with greyed-purple            towards and at the apex, nearest to RHS 186C. Leaves are            covered with a thin layer of epicuticular wax which is            colored greyed-green, nearest to RHS 188C.        -   Venation.—Pattern — No venation is visible. Color, adaxial            surface — No venation is visible. Color, abaxial surface —            No venation is visible.        -   Petiole.—No petiole; leaves are sessile.-   Inflorescence: No flowering has been observed to date.

Comparisons With the Parent Plant

Plants of the new cultivar ‘OVPEARLS05’ differ from the parent, anunnamed Echeveria pulidonis plant (not patented) in the followingcharacteristics described in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘OVPEARLS05’ The parent. General coloration ofthe Greyed-green. Yellow-green. mature foliage. Distal portion of theleaf Conspicuously Less conspicuously margins. margined greyed- marginedred. purple, generally appearing red. Color suffusion of the Suffusedwith greyed- Not suffused with abaxial surface of the purple towards andgreyed-purple. mature foliage. at the apex.

Comparisons With the Closest Known Comparator

Plants of the new cultivar ‘OVPEARLS05’ differ from Echeveria pulidonis‘AMIECH1602’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,757), which is the closest knowncomparator, in the following characteristics described in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘OVPEARLS05’ ‘AMIECH1602’ Abundance of Moreabundant than Less abundant than foliage AMIECH1602’. ‘OVPEARLS05’Foliage width. Foliage is narrower Foliage is wider than thanAMIECH1602’ ‘OVPEARLS05’. Foliage glaucosity. More strongly glauce- Lessglaucescent by scent by comparison comparison to to AMIECH1602’.‘OVPEARLS05’. General coloration A darker shade of grey- A lighter shadeof grey- of the mature ed-green by comparison ed-green by comparisonfoliage. to AMIECH1602’. to ‘OVPEARLS05’. Distal portion of theConspicuously margined Margined lighter greyed- leaf margins.greyed-purple, generally purple to greyed-red, appearing dark red.generally appearing as pink. Color suffusion Heavily suffused with Notsuffused with of the abaxial greyed-purple towards greyed-purple.surface of the and at the apex. mature foliage.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Echeveriaplant named ‘OVPEARLS05’, substantially as described and illustratedherein.